Machine for forming spirals



C. W. DANGLEMEYER. MACHINE FOR FORMING SPIRALS. APPLICATION FILED SEDPT. 2, 1919.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

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MACHINE FOR FORMING SPIRALS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1919- 1,35s,93 8. PatntedNov. 16,1920.

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C. W. DANGLEMEYER.

MACHINE FOR FORMING SPIRALS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1919.

1,35s,93s.- Pdtented N0v.,16, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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MACHINE FOR FORMING SPIRALS. APPLICATION man SEPT. 2, 1919.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

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UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. DANGLEMEYER, or DUBUQUE, IOWA.

MACHINE FOR FORMING SPIRALS.

Application filed September 2, 1919. Serial No. 321,237.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES W. DANGLE- MEYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dubuque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Forming Spirals, of which the following is a specification.

lhis invention is a machine for forming spirals from straight bars having one edge beveled and is intended particularly for pro-.

ducin spiral harrow blades. The invention seeks to provide a machine by the operation of which a straight bar will be coiled into a spiral having its sharpened or beveled edge at the outer side of the spiral or coil, the

be held in its proper position to perform the desired work and will be caused to move axially while rotating with the blank so as to produce the desired coil. A further object of the invention is to provide a former which will properly support the blank and the completed spiral, and a still further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the: completed spiral may be easily removed. Further objects of the invention will appear incidentallyin the course of the following description, and the invention resides in certain novel features whichwill be particularly pointed out in the claims fol lowing'the description. i i In the accompanying drawings- Figure l'is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2* is a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the former and the guide and support for the same;

Fig. 6 is a view of the means for clamping the end of the blank to the former, the parts being shown in perspective and separated but approximately in their proper relative positions;

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the guide and support for the blank;

Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the keeper guide by which the partly formed spiral is held to the former, and of the stop which is brought into play when the spiral is to be removed;

Fig. 9 .is a detail perspective view of a guide roller which aids in holding the blank to the former and also serves to effect axial movement of the former; r

Fig. 10 is a detail illustrating the engagement between the former, the blank, and the guide roller shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a detail horizontal settion showing the spiral-discharging stop in operative position.

In carrying out the invention, I employ a supporting frame which may-be of any preferred form and is illustrated as. comprising an upper table 1, a lower base 2, and braces or legs 3 extending between the same. The base 2 may be supported upon beams 4 and is provided centrally with a bushing or flanged bearing collar 5 which is secured rigidly to the base by cap screws 6 and in which is rotatably fitted the hub 7 of a gear 8. To the lower end of the hub 7 ,I secure a washer or ring 9 which bears against the lower edge of the bushing or collar 5 and thereby prevents vertical movement of the gear as will be readily understood on reference to Fig. 4. This gear 8 is in mesh with a pinion 10 on the inner end of a driving shaft 11 which is journaled in suitable bearings 12 on the base 2 and on a pedestal 13 disposed at one side of the base. A band pulley 14 is secured upon the shaft 11 and receives motion from any convenient motor. The hub 7 of the gear 8 is hollow and is provided with a feather or spline adapted to engage a longitudinal groove 15 in a vertically disposed former shaft 16. The lower end of the shaft 16 is reduced, as shown at-17,, and passes through a washer or-wear ring 18 to rest in a seat or socket 19in a supporting bar 20, the said supporting bar 20 being disposed longitudinally of the machine and supported by cables 21 passing up to and over guide pulleys 22 on the under side of the table top 1 and having counterbalance weights 23 at their free ends. The former is carried by the upper end of the shaft 16 and it will be readily understood that the shaft will rotate with the gear Sbutmay move axially through the same and its axlal movement will be rendered even and smooth by the action of the counterbalance weights 23 which are connected through the cables 1 with the opposite ends of the supporting bar 20.

The former 24 is a cylindrical or tubular member having a head 25 secured to its lower end by cap screws 26. This head is fitted concentrically upon the reduced upper terminal 27 of thesha'ft 16 and is connected with said shaft so as to rotate therewith by akey 28. The former extends vertically through the table top 1 and is guided by a collar 29 secured upon the table top and passing through a central opening therein, as shown clearly in Figs. 4 and 5. the outer circumference of the former is constructed a spiral rib, flange, or bead 30 which extends from end to end of the former and has its'upper and lower sides oppositely beveled, as shown at 31 and 32. A spiral groove will, of course, be formed around the former between the adjacent opposed surfaces or the spiral bead or flange and in the base of this groove is formed a narrower groove '33 which is adapted to receive the butt edge of the blank and prevent the same creeping up as the spiral is formed. To secure the end o1 the blank to the former in proper position to be bent into the desired spiral, I provide the mechanism shown in detail in Fig. 6 which consists of a base plate 34 having a depending flange 35 adapted to fit within the open upper end of the former and against the concave wall thereof and besecured firmly thereto by screws 36. The base plate 34 projects outwardly over andbeyond the upper endof the former and in its extremity is mounted a clamping screw 37 which is mounted vertically in the base plate and has a tapered or pointed lower end, as shown at 38. The upper end of this clamping screw is formed into an angular head 39 to be engaged by a crank handle 40 so that the screw may be easily rotated and thereby adjusted so as to secure orrelease the end of the bar. In the upper surface of the bead 30, in alinement with the screw 37 is a countersunk recess 38. When the end of the heated blank has been placed in position, the screw 37 is turned home against the same and a small teat will be produced thereon and forced nto sald recess 38so'that the blank will be firmlyisecured to the former, as will be readily understood on reference to Figs. 1

and 4. The'blank or bar 41 is also shown indotted lines in Flg. 2 and it will be readily understood from said figure that the bar is moved endwise over the table top 1 so that Upontable top.

' guide it to the former, I provide the supporting guide, shown in detail in Fig. 7 and comprising a grooved roller 42 and a supporting arm 43 disposed laterally at the innor side of the said roller. The roller 42 is carried by a lever 44 which is fulcrumed upon the table top between lugs 45 and is offset at one end so as to-maintain the roller above the table top; The supporting arm 43 projects'laterally from the offset end of the lever 44 and may be integral therewith; it provided on its upper side with rib extending from endto end thereof and adapted tobear against the edge of tie blank, the basal portion of the arm extending under and supportingthe blank. The free end'of the arm 43 is tapered, as shown in Figs. 2 and 7, so that it may fit close to the former and a guiding and pressing roller to be described. In the free end oi? the lever 44 is mounted a stop screw 46 having its end adapted to bear upon the table top 1 and equipped at itsupper end with an adjusting handle 47. A bolt or pin 48 is carried by the lever adjacent the stop screw 46 and this pin or bolt extends through the table top land is equipped with a nut or other form of adjustable stop 49 upon its lower end. A spring 50 is coiled around the pin or bolt between the said stop and the under side of the table top so that it nor mally exerts a pull upon the free end of the lever 44 and thereby tends to hold the roller or guide disk 42 and the supporting arm 43 in an upper position. If the screw be released, the action of the spring 50 will carry the arm 43 and roller 42 to an upperrpost tion and then, when the screw is turned home the said roller and arm will be carried downward and the blank guided properly into the groove 33 of the former.

At that side of the former which receives the blank from the supporting guide arm 43, I provide a guiding and pressing disk 51 which is provided with a groove 52 in its edge to engage the head or rib 30 of the former and the blank held thereon so that as the former is rotated theengagement of the same with the disk 51, which is held against vertical movement, will cause the former to move axially and rise through the Inasmuch as the end of the blank is securely clamped to the rib of the former by the screw 37, the'blank will be forced to follow the movement of the former and, consequently, will be bent around the same. The groove 52 in the edge of the disk 51 is of such 'form and'dimensions that it will fit over the bead 30 and the bar or blank resting thereon, as shown clearly in Fig. 10, and will thereby hold the blank firmly to the head. The said disk is carried by a block 53 slidably mounted upon the table top and provided at its side edges with flanges 5 1 which will engage under the overhanging lips 55 of the tracks or guides 56' secured firmly upon the table top longitudinally of the same in parallel relation.

The disk is carried by a pivot 57 in the inner end of the block 53 so that it may rotate easily and, therefore, not choke or create excessive friction upon the former and in the outer end of the block 53 is swiveled one end of an adjusting screw 58. This adjusting screw is engaged in and extends through a nut or hearing 59 secured upon the table top and is equipped at its outer end with a hand wheel or other form of handle 60.. After the blank has been placed in position upon the supporting guide arm 13 with its reduced edge engaging in the groove in the edge of the disk 42 and its inner end clamped to the former 'by the screw 37, the adjusting screw 58 is rotated sothat the block 53 will slide inwardly. and the disk 51 thereby be caused totengage over the head of the former and the blank resting thereon. The disks 51 and 42 will cotiperate to prevent vertical movement of the blank and the disk 51 will press the blank to the former so that as the unformed bar passes to the former it will rest upon and be held to the head of the former and follow the convolutions of the same. To hold the former in its true axial plane and prevent it being bent by the pressure exerted against it through the disk 51, I provide the rollers or disks 61 at the opposite side of the center of the machine. These disks 61 have their upper surfaces beveled, as shown at 62, to engage against.

the bevel 31 of the former and thereby tend to lift the former and hold it against the pressure from the disk 51. The pressure disks 61 are mounted for free rotation upon the ends of a cross bar or head 63 which is disposed at the inner end of a slide 64 engaged in and disposed between guides or tracks 65 secured upon the table top 1 and similar inform to the tracks 56. A lug or bearing 66 is formed on the upper side of the slide 64: at the outer end of the same and has a swivel connection with the inner end of an adjusting screw 67; This screw 67 is engaged in and passes through a nut 68 on the table top and is equipped at its outer end with a handle 69. It will be readily understood that by adjusting the screw 67 the disks 61 may be set to exert any desired pressure against the former and will efi'ectually prevent the former being bent or twisted under the pressure from the disk 51. Between the disks 51 and 61 and at the far side of the former, relative to the supporting arm 43, I provide a keeper or guide consisting of an arcuate band 70 which is disposed concentric with the former and close to the same so that the formed portion of the spiral will be held to the former and prevented from flying from between the ad- J'acen p r io of he a h qfe end of this keeper guide is secured to a block 71 secured upon the table top but the opposite end of the keeper is carried by a bracket 7 2 which is also secured to the table top. The block 71 is disposed at an angle to the former and is provided with a longitudinal groove 73 in its upper side. A stop 74 is slidably mounted in the groove 73 and is equipped at its outer end with a handle 75 whereby it may be easily manipulated. The inner end of this stop 74 is tapered, as shown at 76, whereby it will conform to the beveled surfaces of the head 30 and may enter the groove 33. After the entire length of the blank has been drawn around the former the stop 7 1 is pushed inwardly so that its tapered end will bear against the former immediately adjacent the lower end of the spiral. The clamping screw 37 is then released from the spiral and the former is rotated in the direction reverse to its previous rotation thereby bringing the lower end of the spiral against the stop 74 so that the continued rotation of the former will cause the spiral to pass from between the adjacent portions of the bead on the former and emerge at the upper end thereof. When the former has reached its initial lowered position the completed spiral may be easily lifted therefrom. As shown most clearly in Fig. 8, on the inner concave face of the keeper guide 70 is a rib 77 extending from end to end of said face. This rib roject's over the formed bar lying on the ead 30 and prevents the bar from creeping up on the bead of the former when being unwound while the keeper 7O prevents the bar from creeping away from the groove 33.

It is thought the operation will be readily understood from what has been said. but it may be briefly summarized. The blank is pushed endwise through the groove in the disk 42 and over the supporting arm 43 until its inner end rests-upon the bead of screw 37. Said screw is then turned home so as to secure the end of the blank. after which the disks 51 and 61 are properly adjusted, the disk 51 engaging over the blank the former immediately under the clamping and the head of the former so as to hold the blank to the head. The driving shaft 11 is then set in motion and will, of course, cause rotation of the gear 8. The gear 8 will act directly upon the former shaft 16 so as to rotate the same and, as the shaft is keyed to the former, the former Will. of course, be simultaneously rotated. As the former rotates, however, its spiral bead will move through the groove 52 of the disk 51 and over the edges of the disks 61 and, inasmuch as said disks are held against vertical movement, the former will be caused to rise through the collar 29, the former shaft movshaft and former rise, the supporting bar 20. will move upwardly and the counterbalance Weights 23 will move downwardly so that the movement of'the former will be regular and steady and all jerking action will be eliminated. The blank will be forced to follow the movements of the former and will be thereby coiled spirally around the same. When the entire blank has'been' coiled, the screw 37 is released, the stop T l pushed in and the former rotated in the directionopposite to its previous rotation whereupon it will descend anc the formed blade will be removed therefrom.

My machine is very simple in'the construction and arrangement of its parts and will effectually accomplish the desired work. All the working parts are accessible so that repairs to the same may be very readily made when necessary and the entire operation is exposed to view so that the progress of the work can be noted from its inception to its completion. The machine may be made to produce either right-handedor left handed spirals by providing a plurality f formers havingthe desired formation of the spiral rib or bead and using one or another according to the result to be obtained. The machine illustrated will produce a righthanded spiral and it will be understood that when a left-handed spiral is to be produced the parts cooperating with the former will be disposed reversely to the positions in which they are illustrated.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimedas new is:

1. In a machine for the purpose set forth, a former consisting of a cylindrical body having a spiral bead upon its surface and constructed with a narrow groove at the base of the head, said bead and said groove extending from end to end of the body.

2. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination of a longitudinally movable rotatable former having a spiral bead thereformer for supporting the blank and guid-.

ing it to the former, means for holding the blank against the former at its point of contact therewith, and a keeper disposed adjacent and concentric with the former beyond said holding means to prevent the bent portion of the blank escaping from the former.

4. In a machine for the purpose set forth,

the combination-of a rotatably and axially movable former,1 means for supporting a blank with one end thereof'resting on the former, a base .plate projecting over the end of the former and having a depending flange secured to the inner side of the former, and a clamping screw mounted in the end of the base plate in position to bear upon the end of the blank.

5 Ina machine for the purpose set forth, the combination with a former, of means for holding a blank to'the former and coiling it in a spiral about the former as the former is rotated, and a stop mounted at one side of the former normally free thereof and movable toward the same in rear of the end of the treated blank whereby upon reverse operation of theformer the spiral willbe unwound therefrom. 1

' 6. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combinationof a supporting frame, a former mounted upon the frame for rotary and axial movement, means for rotating the former and disks 'mountedat opposite sides of the former and movable toward and from the sam'eand adapted to engage the former whereby to cause axial movement thereof as it is rotated. i

7. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination of asupporting frame, a former mounted therein having a spiral bead thereon, means for rotating the former, guideso'n the supporting frame at opposite sides of the former, slides mounted in said guides to move toward or from the former, and disks mounted for free rotationnpon the slides-and adapted to engage the bead on the former wherebyto cause axial movement of the former as is it rotated.

8. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination of a supporting frame, a former mounted therein, and a guide for'directing a blank to the former, "said guide consisting of a lever fulcrumed upon the supporting frame, a grooved disk at one end of said lever, an adjustable stopat the opposite end of the lever adapted to bear upon the supporting frame, and yieldable means acting upon the lever adjacent said stop'to hold it to the supporting frame.

9. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination of a supporting frame, a former mounted therein, and a guide for directing a blank to the former, said guide consisting of a lever fulcrumed upon the supporting frame, a grooved disk at oneend of said lever, an adjustable'stop at the opposite end of the lever adapted to bear. upon the supporting frame, yieldable means act'- ing upon the lever adjacent said stop to hold it to the supporting frame, and a supporting arm extending laterally from the first-mentioned end of the lever adjacent the grooved disk. 7

10. In a machine for the purpose set'forth, the combination of a supporting frame, a

former mounted therein, and a guide for directing a blank to the former, said guide consisting of a lever fulcrumed upon the supporting frame, a grooved disk at one end of said lever, an adjustable stop at the opposite end of the lever adapted to bear upon the supporting frame, yieldable means acting upon the lever adjacent said stop to hold it to the supporting frame, and a supporting arm extending from the lever adjacent the grooved disk and provided on its upper side with a longitudinal rib extending from end to end thereof.

11. In a machine'for the purpose set forth, the combination of a supporting frame, a former mounted therein, means for rotating said former and moving the same axially, a block secured upon the supporting frame adj acent the former and having a groove in its upper side, a stop slidably mounted in said groove and adapted to engage the former, and a keeper extending from said block adjacent and concentric with the former.

12. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination of a supporting frame, a former mounted for vertical movement in said frame, a former shaft extending from the lower end of the former, means acting on said shaft to rotate the same, said shaft being movable axially, a supporting bar in which the lower end of said shaft is engaged, and counterbalance weights connected with the ends of said supporting bar.

13. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination of a supporting frame, a collar secured in the lower portion of said frame, a driving gear having its hub fitting in said collar, a ring secured to the lower end of said hub and bearing against the lower end of said collar, a former shaft extending through said hub and movable therethrough but constrained to rotate therewith, a former secured upon the upper end of the former shaft, and means cooperating with said former to cause axial movement thereof as the shaft is rotated.

14:. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination of a rotatable and axially movable former, means for securing one end of a blank to the former whereby the blank will be caused to follow the movements of the former, and a keeper guide adjacent the former and concentric therewith, said keeper guide having a longitudinal rib projecting over the blank on the former.

15. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination of a rotatable and axially movable former, means for holding a blank upon the former whereby it will be coiled about the former during movement of the latter, and means to abut the end of the coiled blank whereby a reverse movement of the former will efiiect removal of the coil.

16. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination of a rotatable and axially movable former, means for securing one end of a blank to the former, a grooved roller disposed at one side of the former and engaging the blank, and a rigid blank-supporting and guiding arm extending from said roller to the former, said arm being tangential to the former.

17. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination of a supporting frame, a former mounted therein, means for rotating said former and moving the same axially, a block secured upon the supporting frame adjacent the former and having a groove in its upper side, and a stop slidably mounted in said groove and adapted to engage the former.

18. In a machine for the purpose set forth, the combination of a rotatable and axially movable former, means for securing one end of a blank to the former whereby the blank will be caused to follow the movements of the former, means for supporting the blank and guiding it to the former, and a stationary keeper beyond the supporting and guiding means, the face of the keeper presented to the former being close thereto and concentric therewith whereby to prevent the coiled portion of the blank moving outwardly from the former.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES W. DANGLEMEYER. 11.5.] 

